Darius: four Empire lists
In the following texts, often called Empire lists, we see the expansion of the Persian empire: Darius mentions the territories he had conquered. The oldest list is the Behistun inscription (519 BCE); a second text was found on the Persepolis terrace (c.515); a third one is from Susa (after 513); and the last one can be read on Darius' tomb at Naqš-i Rustam (after 492). (The list of tax districts in Herodotus' Histories is an odd example of the same genre.) The texts are very interesting, not only because they show the expansion of the empire, but also the changing borders of the satrapies.
Behistun inscription §6:
These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the favor of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia, Elam, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, the countries by the Sea, Lydia, the Greeks, Media, Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdia, Gandara, Scythia, Sattagydia, Arachosia and Maka; twenty-three lands in all.Persepolis terrace (DPe)
By the favor of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I got into my possession along with this Persian people, which felt fear of me and bore me tribute : Elam, Media, Babylonia, Arabia, Assyria, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Lydia, the Greeks who are of the mainland and those who are by the sea, and countries which are across the sea, Sagartia, Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Bactria, Sogdia, Chorasmia, Sattagydia, Arachosia, Hinduš, Gandara, Scythians, Maka.Susa inscription (DSe)
By the favor of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I seized outside of Persia; I ruled over them; they bore tribute to me; what was said to them by me, that they did; my law - that held them firm: Media, Elam, Babylonia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdia, Chorasmia, Drangiana,[2] Arachosia, Sattagydia, Maka, Gandara, Hinduš, Sakâ haumavargâ, Sakâ tigrakhaudâ, Parthia [1], Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Lydia, the Greeks who are by the sea and who are across the sea, Thracians, Libyans, Ethiopians, Carians. [3]Naqš-i Rustam (DNa)
By the favor of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I seized outside of Persia; I ruled over them; they bore tribute to me; they did what was said to them by me; they held my law firmly; Media, Elam, Parthia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdia, Chorasmia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Sattagydia, Gandara, Hinduš, Sakâ haumavargâ, Sakâ tigrakhaudâ, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Lydia, the Greeks, Sakâ paradrayâ, Thrace, the Macedonians, the Libyans, the Kushites, the men of Maka and the Carians.The expansion of Persia
Behistun |
Persepolis |
Susa |
Naqš-i R. |
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The text mentions Babylonia twice; Parthia is a restoration.
Note 2:
The nomads of Sagartia, only mentioned as an independent satrapy on
the Persepolis list, was, at this time, added to Drangiana.
Note 3:
The Carians had been sudued by Cyrus
the Great, but had retained something of their independence. We must
think of them as an autonomous region in Lydia. Darius put an end to this
and changed them into a satrapy.